portland limestone cement scoping document

Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee Work Product Scoping Document

New

Impact of Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) on

Concrete Performance

May 21, 2020

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Updated 5/21/20

Task Group

Concrete Task Group

Problem Process

Annual

Expedited

Emerging Initiative Title

Impact of Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) on Concrete

Performance

Statement of Effort/Improvement

Type IL cements, commonly referred to as Portland Limestone Cement (PLC), are currently not

allowed by Caltrans specifications, though industry partners continue to seek the consideration

for their inclusion as a tool to help Caltrans improve sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas

(GHG) emissions. ASTM C150 allows up to 5% interground limestone in portland cement,

whereas type IL in ASTM C595 (AASHTO M240) allows between 5% to 15% limestone in

blended cements. Caltrans 2018 Standard Specifications allows ASTM C150 and only allows

ASTM C595 (AASHTO M240) type IS and type IP cements with additional requirements.

Additional utilization of ground limestone in hydraulic cement can enhance sustainability, lower

GHG emissions and reduce the energy consumption associated with cement while maintaining

equivalent quality and performance of the concrete produced.

There has been discussion of inclusion of type IT ternary blended cements into this scoping

document, however, there is concern that incorporating this additional work item would slow

progress of incorporating type IL milestones. As a compromise, it is suggested that a review of

type IT information available be reviewed concurrently with the type IL work to determine if

type IT could be incorporated without additional efforts that would delay milestones of type IL

scope. After review if it is determined that type IT would need further testing or research that

would delay the scope of type IL, a separate scoping document would be developed. Conversely,

if it is found that type IT could be included without additional efforts or delay, it would be

included into this work.

Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee

Scoping Document

Concrete Task Group/Materials and Quality Assurance Sub-Task Group

Impact of Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) on Concrete Performance

May 13, 2020

of 8

Updated 05/21/20

Purpose

The manufacture of ordinary portland cement (OPC) is a complex and highly energy intensive

process, which is responsible for approximately 7% of the total global GHG emissions every

year. PLC is designed to significantly reduce the energy consumption and GHG emissions

associated with cement production. Allowance of PLC has the potential to significantly reduce

the CO2 and energy that is embodied in transportation infrastructure, which is in line with

Caltrans’ values and mission.

Background

Despite the environmental benefits, inadequate studies on the use of PLC with typical California

Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and material resources remains as one of the

barriers to their inclusion into Caltrans Standard Specifications. To confidently adopt the use of

PLC in Caltrans, Oregon State University (OSU) has been tasked with conducting a three-phase

comprehensive research project for Caltrans to address whether PLC would negatively impact

the performance of concrete materials that are specific to California. This working group seeks

to review the research findings from the OSU team and address how these findings would apply

to Caltrans Standard Specifications with the use of PLC.

This effort’s main objectives are to draft a revised Standard Specification incorporating the use

of PLC and create an implementation plan with the additional information provided by OSU’s

report.

Approach

1. Street Ready Assurance

The adoption of an option to use PLC in concrete will be made depending on the findings

and recommendations from OSU’s research. If the results and conclusions are favorable,

specification revisions and an implementation plan will be developed for adoption of the

PLC in Caltrans projects.

2. Performance Tracking/Management


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Updated 05/21/20

The performance and properties of PLC concrete are being evaluated by the OSU team.

The working group will review interim reports provided by OSU, ongoing test results of

the research, as well as any recommendations from the associated Caltrans-Industry

Research Steering Committee to understand the performance of PLC concrete and

potential implications from its adoption into specifications. The OSU research project is

scheduled to be fully complete by Spring 2021.

3. Consistently Implemented

Based on the findings from the research, specifications revisions and an implementation

plan will be developed which will initiate an option of PLC statewide. The supporting

documents that may be impacted and will need to be identified and addressed include but

are not limited to the Caltrans Construction Manual, Concrete Technology Manual,

Authorized Materials List Criteria, California Test Methods, etc.

4. Pilot Projects (if anticipated)

Pilot Projects are not necessary for this project.

5. Research Needs (if necessary)

In 2018, Caltrans initiated a three-year comprehensive research project with OSU to

evaluate whether the use of PLC would have any detrimental impacts on the properties

and performance of concrete while using California’s representative concrete materials.

The anticipated conclusions and recommendations from the research will be provided by

April 2021. An interim report on findings thus far is expected in March 2020.

Team Members (Indicate CT Chair and Industry Lead)

CT/Industry Division/Firm Name Member Name

CT Chair METS Zihui (Lance) Li

CT Pavement Program David Lim

CT SP&I Craig Knapp


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CT SP&I Structures Specification

Research and Development (SSRD)

Jeff Goronea/Eric Fornera(A)

Industry Lead CalPortland Kirk McDonald

Industry NCE Tom Van Dam

Industry Lehigh Hanson Morgan Johnson

Industry Cemex Hernan Jose Perez Rodriguez

Team should not include more than four Caltrans staff and four members from Industry.

See PMPC Standard Operating Procedures for more information. It is anticipated that

experts from academia, industry or other specialized areas will provide input on a

needed basis.

Objectives/Deliverables/Due Dates

Description: The working group seeks to review the research findings from OSU and

address how these conclusions and recommendations will apply to Caltrans

Specifications when PLC is adopted. Additionally, the impacts of the potential PLC

specifications to other sections will be identified and any inconsistency in supporting

documentation will be identified so that they may be addressed. The main objectives of

this project are to develop the specification draft and propose an implementation plan for

use of PLC as per OSU’s findings. The following deliverables are necessary to meet the

objective:

1. Identify where PLC adoption would need to be specified in specifications

2. Identify the assets or specification sections that it would impact (e.g. pavements,

culverts, bridges, etc.).

3. Develop any necessary specification revisions due to this adoption.

4. Identify impacted supporting documents that will require updates. (Implementation

plan)

• Construction Manual

• Authorized Materials List for Cementitious Materials

• California Test Methods

• Concrete Technology Manual


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• Other related documents

5. Final summary report.

Document and summarize all work that the working group has been done.

Schedule:

Milestones Name -

Responsible

Party

Due Date

(Start/Complete)

1a. Identify where PLC adoption would need

to be specified in specifications

Lance Li/Kirk

McDonald

July 2020/September

2020

1b. Review research (OSU & other) or

perform additional tests to determine

if there is enough information to

include ASTM C595 type IT in project

or if further work is necessary. Submit

report summarizing suggestion.

Craig Knapp/Tom

Van Dam

July 2020/November

2020

2a. Identify the assets or specification

sections that it would impact (e.g.

pavements, culverts, bridges, etc.).

Craig Knapp/Kirk

McDonald

September

2020/January 2021

2b. Finalize decision to either include type

IT or suggest separate scoping

document.

Lance Li/Kirk

McDonald

December 2020

3. Develop any necessary specification

revisions due to this adoption

Jeff Goronea/Kirk

McDonald

January 2021/May

2021

4. Identify impacted supporting documents

that will require updates.

(Implementation plan)

Tom Collins/Lance

Li

April 2021/September

2021

5. Final summary report Lance Li/ Kirk

McDonald

July 2021/ October

2021


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Resources To Develop and Implement

Caltrans Hours Industry Hours

Development 1200 800

Other Resources

(Labs and Districts) 120 0

Benefits

• Reduce amount of portland cement necessary for concrete production, along

with ability to maintain usage of current levels of SCM, results in significant

reduction in CO2 emissions.

• Extend the life of limestone quarries and preserve natural resources. This is mainly

because limestone used directly in cement without being calcined.

Estimated Impact to Caltrans and Contractor

• Increase awareness of sustainable materials and reduce portland cement usage

for Caltrans projects.

• Significantly reduce the GHG emissions and energy that is embodied in the

transportation infrastructure.

Impediments to Completion of Deliverables

1. Delay of the OSU’s ongoing research project.

The working group chair is a member of the steering committee for the research project and

the chair will communicate with the research team regularly to determine whether the

working group schedule should be revised based on the progress of the research.

2. Lack of communication and contribution from group members.

Regular meetings/conference calls will be scheduled to maintain communication within the

group and ensure everyone is on the same page. The group chair and industry lead will

ensure all the literature and meeting documentation are available to members, and the

working tasks will be assigned to individual members as action items in each meeting.

3. Scope Creep

6/15/20

6/15/20


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Updated 05/21/20

Scoping Document Approval and Industry Concurrence by (name and date): Caltrans Name (Approval) Date Industry Name (Concurrence) Date

Sergio Aceves, Caltrans PMPC

Executive Committee – ChairBrandon Milar, Industry PMPC

Ray Hopkins, Caltrans PMPC

Executive Committee - MemberCharley Rea, Industry PMPC

Dolores Valls, Caltrans PMPC

Executive Committee - Member

Roberto Lacalle, Caltrans PMPC

Executive Committee – Member

Approval Date: ___________________



6/18/20

6/18/20

6/18/20

6/18/20

6/18/20

6/18/20

6/18/20

portland limestone cement scoping document

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